Watch | Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh embarks on mass awareness campaign for clean Narmada

In a special interview with News Nation, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Narmada is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and he is committed to conserve the river and make it pollution-free. He also plans for massive afforestation along 1000 km on Narmada river by convincing farmers to give their lands for afforestation. In order to ease burden on farmers, the farmers will also be given compensation for three years till those trees start bearing the fruits. And after three years, state government will open fruits and vegetable roots to give farmers a source of income.

The chief minister also said the in order to make the river pollution free,  the state government is also starting water treatments plants in nearby areas of the river and then water from those treatment plants will be used by farmers for irrigation purposes.  

A campaign for construction of toilets in the villages on the riverbank would be undertaken with a focus on making these areas open-defecation free. Treatment plants would be set up to stop the waste flow into the river, he said.

Immersion ponds will be constructed so that people do not dump pooja material in the river and cremation sites would also be developed in the towns along the banks, also in this immersion ponds efforts would be made to make fertilisers from pooja material, he added.

“Narmada Sewa Samiti will be formed in the villages and towns for monitoring of these conservation works,” he said, urging MLAs from all the parties to join in the efforts to conserve the river.